U.S. Special Forces ordered to quit key Afghan province

Monday, February 25, 2013 - 01:19

Feb. 25 - U.S. Special Forces ordered out of one Afghan province over alleged abuse by Afghans working for them. Julie Noce reports.

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Afghan government officials say US special forces stationed Wardak province have two weeks to get out.
They've been ordered to leave the key battleground area over allegations that Afghans working for them tortured, abused and even killed innocent residents.
A spokesperson for President Hamid Karzai made the announcement Sunday.
(SOUNDBITE) (Dari) AIMAL FAIZI, SPOKESMAN FOR AFGHAN PRESIDENT, HAMID KARZAI; SAYING:
"The Afghan national security meeting made a decision and have assigned the ministry of defense to pull out all U.S. special forces out of the Wardak province within two weeks."
According to military officials, residents say nine people have disappeared, allegedly at the hands of the special forces operatives.
This woman says her son was beaten, his body dropped under a bridge.
And this man claims he was beaten in the legs and head before any attempt was made to question him about anything.
Afghan Army chief of Staff, Sher Mohammad Karimi.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) GENERAL SHER MOHAMMAD KARIMI, AFGHAN ARMY CHIEF OF STAFF; SAYING:
"The order is, in order to prove whether who is doing this the one solution would be just stop operating these people as a whole."
The NATO led International Security Assistance Force said in a statement that the US is aware of the allegations and will investigate.